Ergo-Ware
Outstanding Design Achievement: Vessels Finalist
I first entered the world of handcrafted art in the 1990s, working as a potter and glassblower. While these crafts undoubtedly take a toll on the hands and joints, that wasn’t the driving force behind creating my line of ergonomic coffee cups. I simply wanted to expand my design portfolio and, somewhat reluctantly, decided to design a coffee cup. Once I committed to the idea, I knew it had to stand out with a unique, out-of-the-box approach.
My collection of hand-made ergonomic coffee cups features a double-walled, self-insulated design that helps keep beverages hotter longer than a traditional cup. Each cup is slip-cast and different grips are applied individually. Made from speckled stoneware and fired to cone 6, 2232 degrees, and available in 12 glazes. Each cup holds 10oz of liquid.
At first, I started with a wheel-thrown cup on the potters’ wheel, then transitioned to a single-walled slip-cast form before settling on the current double-walled construction. Along the way, I honed various techniques to perfect the design, and the ergonomics have expanded to be more inclusive, especially for those with hand mobility challenges. The initial Flange grip was made for specific hand use, and I later introduced the Ambi grip, which works with either hand. The Helve and Duo grips came last, specifically addressing the needs of individuals with arthritis or other hand conditions.
As an artist in the handmade industry, I understand the toll that repetitive motion can take on the body. I was diagnosed with Basal Thumb Arthritis, which gave me firsthand experience with joint pain. This personal connection naturally led me to develop the Helve and Duo grip cups. These two designs are particularly versatile. Their varying open-ended armatures accommodate different hand sizes, allowing more people to comfortably hold the body of the cup while the armatures allow for hanging from the hand, as with the Helve grip, or the wrist, as with the Duo grip.
Retailing my work at an artist co-op in New Orleans—a city steeped in coffee culture, it is fitting that my new design concept for a coffee cup would be born within the French Market, the oldest continuously operating public market in the US. Customers are drawn to the unique design unaware of the hidden ergonomic benefits, but once discovered, they appreciate both the contemporary design and its functionality.
Outstanding Design Achievement: Vessels Finalists
Created Co.
Ergo-Ware
ICOSA Brewhouse
Loveramics
Subko Coffee
🏆 View all categories
🗳️ Vote now
📬 Register your interest in the 2025 Sprudge Design Awards
